Green-corn cutter



(Model.)

S. D.,WARFIELD.

' GREEN CORN GUTTER. No. 247,718.

Patented Sept. 27, 1881.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SOLOMAN D. ARFIELD, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

GREEN-CORN CUTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 247,718, dated September 27, 1881,

Application filed August 10, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SoLoMAN D. WARFIELD, of the city of Baltimore and State of Maryland, have invented certain Improvements in Green-Corn Cutters, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates toa machine in which an ear of corn supported axially between centers is stripped of the adhering grain by means of a longitudinally-moving knife in a series of cuts,the ear bein g partially' revolved after each operative movement of the knife.

It further relates to means whereby a cut of uniform depth is obtained, and to other details of construction of the machine, as will herein- Y after appear.

In the further description of my said invention which follows reference is made to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, and in which- Figure I is a side View of the machine. Fig. II is a plan of the same. Figs. III and IV are views of certain parts of the machine on an enlarged scale. Fig. V illustrates a modification in the construction of a part of the machine.

Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts in all the views.

A is the bed-plate of the machine. B is a revoluble shaft, supported in a suitable frame, C, having a pointed blade or driving-center at its inner end, which is inserted in one end of the ear of corn from which the grain is to be removed. The other end of the ear of corn is supported by a bar, D, having a stationary center, and a series of prongs adapted to be revolved independently ot' the center, which are forced into the ear. The bar D is adapted to slide longitudinally in the stand @,and it is notched at its upper edge toengage with a pawl, b, pivoted to one part of the stand. A spring, E, serves to keep the bar D, when not held by the pawl b, at its greatest distance from the rotary driving center or blade of the shaft B.

The ear of corn is first pressed on the driving blade or center, and the bar D is then moved forward until the stationary center and the revoluble prongs enter the other end of the ear. As the bar D is advanced it is held and its retraction prevented by means of the pawl b.

F is a knife, secured rigidly to a carrier, G, which is pivoted to a holder, H. The holder H is supported on guide-rods I, and it has a reciprocating motion, being attached to a crank, K. as shown in the drawings.

The construction of the knife, carrier, and holder will be understood by reference to Fig. III. A roller, d, is adjustably attached to the knife-carrier G, and rests on the ear in advance 'of the knife, to give a uniform depth of c'ut without reference to any longitudinal curvature or irregularity in shape of the ear.

By reference to Fig. III it will be seen that vertical adjustment of the roller is effected by means of a screw, e. The knife is retained in contact with the ear by means of a spring, j'.

L L are miter-gears, connecting the shaft B with the counter-shaft M, on the outer end of which counter-shaft is secured a ratchetwheel, N.

O is a spring-pawl, projecting from the knifeholder H, which, at each backward movement of the said holder and its attachments, comes vin contact with the teeth of the ratchet-wheel N and effects a partial revolution of the ear. By this means, if the gearing and ratchetwheel are arranged with reference to the springpawl to effect a fifth of a complete revolution of the ear at each revolution of the crank K, the grain will be stripped in five cuts, as will be readily understood.

P is a guide-bar, upon which an extension, g, of the knifeF rides as the said knife passes beyond the end of the ear in its backward movement, thus preventing its contact with the shaft B or the frame C. A similar guiderod, It, is fastened to the bar D,and it acts in substantially the same manner as the one P, only that it comes into contact with the knifecarrier, instead of with an extension of the knife in the forward stroke.

When an ear of corn has been stripped of its grain, and the cob only is left between the centers, the operator forces the pawl B from contact with bar D, when the spring E assumes its original position, drawing the said bar back. The force exerted in this retractive movement of the bar D is used to disengage the cob from the center in the following manner: A small rod,lt, having an eye at one end, which encircles the drivin g-center or blade, is confined within bearings t', and adapted to have IOO a longitudinal movement therein. The other end of said bar is bent upward and to such position as to come in contact with a brace, 7c, on the guide-rod R when the same springs back.

When the ear of corn is placed between the centers the rod hI is forced back or to the position shown in Figs.I and II of the drawings; but upon the release of bar D it is moved in a contrary direction by the brace k coming into contact with its upturned end, and the eye of the rod k is thus forced against the end of the corn-cob and detaches the same from the driving-center.

In Fig. V the knife F is shown with a central point and two angular cutting edges; but its operation is substantially the same as that of the knife shown in the other figures.

Where it is designed to use the machine for removing cooked corn from the ccb for table use, I propose to apply a blade to the roller or to the knife to sever the outer casing of the grain, and in such case a scraper could be used to remove those parts ofthe grain not detached bythe knife.

If desired,the crank and connecting-rod for operating the knife may be dispensed with, and the knife moved longitudinally ofthe ear bymeans of ahandle, which is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1I and represented by V.

I claim as my invention- 1. Ina green-corn cutter, a pair of centeringpoints adapted to support axially an ear of corn, and means for effecting an intermittent partial rotation of the ear, combined with a longitudinally-moving knife, and a roller to govern the depth of cut of the said knife, substantially as specified.

2. In a green-corn cutter, a pair of centeringA points adapted to support axially an ear of corn, and means for effecting an intermittent partial rotation of the ear, combined with a longitudinally-moving knife, a gaging-roller, and guides to sustain the said knife when the same passes beyond the ear, substantially as specified.

3. In a green-corn cutter, a revoluble shaft with a pointed blade or drivin g-eenter adapted to sustain one end. of an ear of corn, combined with a bar constructed to support the other end of the said ear, the said bar having a retracting-spring, and a toothed surface to engage with a pawl, substantially as and for the purgose specified.

4. In a green-corn cutter, a pair of centeringpoints adapted to support axially au ear of corn, and means for effecting an intermittent partial rotation of the ear, combined with a longitudinally-moving knife, a gaging-roller, and devices for adjusting the position of the said roller with reference to the said knife, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. The shaft B, having a driving blade or center, and the sliding bar D, combined with the longitudinally-moving rod h., the same having at one end an eye which surrounds the said (lriviiigblade, and at the other means for effecting an engagement with the said bar D or its attachments as the same are retracted from the driving-center, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

SOLOMAN D. VVARFIELD.

Vitnesses WM. T. HOWARD, JNO. T. MADDQX. 

